WEBVTT
POTENTIAL STUDENTS INTERESTED IN
THE STEM INITIATIVE.
A NEW STEM CURRICULUM IS MAKING
BIG CHANGES TO CLASSROOMS IN
WEST DES MOINES ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS.
KCCI'S TOMMIE CLARK HAS THE NEW
STORY.
YOU WENT BACK TO SCHOOL FOR THIS
STORY.
TOMMIE: THAT'S RIGHT.
THE NEW CURRICULUM FOCUSING ON
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING
AND MATH IS TEACHING STUDENTS TO
WORK IN A PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT.
ALL OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS,
INCLUDING JORDAN CREEK
ELEMENTARY, ARE PARTICIPATING IN
THE NEW APPROACH.
THE CURRICULUM INTRODUCES
STUDENTS TO A MORE HANDS-ON TYPE
OF LEARNING.
SOME ACTIVITIES GOING ON IN THE
SCHOOLS INCLUDE BUILDING ROBOTS
AND CREATING FLIGHT SIMULATIONS.
STUDENTS WORK IN A TEAM TO COME
UP WITH A SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS
THEY ENCOUNTER AND LOG THEIR
TEST OUTCOMES ALONG THE WAY.
THE FIFTH-GRADE TEACHER WE SPOKE
WITH SAYS HE WAS ONE OF THE
BIGGEST SKEPTICS WHEN TH
CURRICULUM WAS INTRODUCED.
BUT AFTER SEEING IT IN ACTION,
HE'S AMAZED BY THE CRITIC
THINKING SKILLS HIS STUDENTS ARE
DEVELOPING.
HE SAYS THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER
WHILE BEING CREATIVE AND FINDING
NEW WAYS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.
HE SAYS IT'S PREPARING THEM FOR
JOBS AND THE REAL WORLD.
>> THEY HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AS
A TEAM.
OK, IF THIS BROKE OR THIS DIDN'T
WORK, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO
OVERCOME THA
AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY STRUGGLE
WITH THAT.
IN THE PAST IT'S BEEN
CLEAR-CUT ANSWER, AND NOW WITH
THIS NEW CURRICULUM, THEY'RE
FORCED TO KIND OF THINK OUTSIDE
THE BOX.
TOMMIE: STUDENTS WERE BUILDING
ROBOTS WHEN WE VISITED THE
CLASSROO
THEY SAY IT'S CHALLENGING, BUT
FUN AT THE SAME TIME.
ONE STUDENT EXPLAINED HOW TH
BUILT THE ROBOT AND HOW THEY'RE
USING IT TO LEARN.
>> YOU HAVE TO WORK AS A TEAM TO
DECIDE HOW YOU WANT TO MOVE THE
BLOCKS, AND YOU HAVE TO DECIDE
IF IT WILL BE TOO HEAVY AND
WILL TILT IT DOWNWARD OR MOVE IT
SIDE-TO-SIDE
TOMMIE: TEACHERS TELL US THIS